Qatar chairs preparatory meetings for Arab summit

Qatar chaired on Thursday the preparatory meetings for the Arab Summit, in Doha, replacing Iraq which was president of the previous Arab Summit. During the opening session, senior officials and experts started discussing economicand social files in preparation for submitting them to the ministers of finance and economy tomorrow. This meeting comes amid many international developments that have badly affected the Arab world, said Hashim Mohamed Hatem, Director General of the Department ofForeign Economic Relations at the Ministry of Trade in Iraq. Hatem - in his speech during the meeting - called on institutions of joint Arab action to work harder for uniting and integrating the Arab nations. The Iraqi official said the Arab countries should accelerate the implementation of the many important economic and social decisions adopted by the Arab economic social development summit that was held in Riyadh. He cited as examples the unified agreement to invest Arab capital in Arab countries and the Arab strategy to develop the use of renewable energy (2010-2030) and fulfill the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015 and beyond). Iraq during its presidency of the previous session stressed the importance of strengthening economic, developmental and social relations through the implementation of all cooperation agreements and boosting Arab economic performance and inter-Arab trade activities.